One phase at a time

Friday

Oct 4, 2013 at 12:00 PM

FLATS breaks ground on first phase of trail

The Forest Lake Area Trail System had an end but now it has a start with the official groundbreaking Thursday marking the beginning of construction of the future trail's first phase at Thousand Hills State Park.

It's a start that been a long time coming, with materials on hand and volunteers ready to clear brush and begin on the first steps of what is hoped to become a four-mile hiking/biking trail from downtown Kirksville to the local state park marina.

"We feel like we've been breaking ground and building a trail here for awhile now," said FLATS steering committee member Dan Martin during the official ceremony at Thousand Hills before about 150 supporters.

The ceremony was held near the Petroglyph Shelter on what will become the about half-mile stretch from the marina to the shelter that will then connect to the existing trail that then reaches to Campground No. 1, with state parks officials, local organizers and supporters.

For months, the steel for the bridge near the dining lodge has been sitting in a park parking lot as organizers awaited the state Department of Natural Resources to sign off on the project and commit resources to begin construction. Volunteers also recently cleared portions of what will become the trailhead in town, with about three miles in between still remaining for planning and construction.

Steering committee member Royce Kallerud heralded the volunteers, man-hours and local donations that have led FLATS to this point as he gave tours of the to-be constructed path which will run from the marina, past the dining lodge and cabins before turning north past the petroglyphs.

"We will have this very soon," he said.

Concrete and bridge construction is slated to start this fall with a goal of completing Phase 1 this spring.

From there, the next step is a grant application and design for Phase 2, connecting all the campgrounds and then the conceptual design and clearing for the major step of Phase 3.

"It's so gratifying to see that the support is still there," Kallerud said.

The group received a $100,000 Recreational Trails Program grant from the state to cover the majority of the Phase 1 costs, with donations and in-kind contributions covering the remainder.

FLATS has also already secured $25,000 for Phase 2 and is in the process of applying for additional RTP funds for use this spring.